Packaging method and machine



Feb. 24, 1942. F. D. PALMER PACKAGING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed July '7, 1939 ll Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 24, 1942. F. D. PALMER PACKAGING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed July 7. '1939 lISheets-Shget 2 MWN KN @NN QQN g \%N NN RQN Feb. 24, 1942; F. D. PALMER PACKAGING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed July 7, 1939 ll Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 24, 1942. F. D. PALMER 2,

PACKAGING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed July 7, 1939 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 24, 1942. F. D. PALMER PACKAGING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed July 7, 1939 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 Feb. 24, 1942. F. D. PALMER PACKAGING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed July 7, 1939 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 'i'iulanfor:

[Fa/06.22pm? I F. D. PALMER PACKAGING METHOD AND MACHINE Feb. 24, 1942.

ll Sheets-Sheet l0 Filed July 7,. 1959 Feb. 24, 1942, F. D. PALMER ,345 PACKAGING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed July 7, 1939 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 @QN QQN W v m m Patented Feb. 24,1942 7 1 PACKAGING METHOD AND MACHINE Frank D. Palmer, Chicago, 111., assignor to Kraft Cheese Company,- a corporation of Delaware Application July 7, 1939, Serial No. 283,161.

16 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved packaging method and machine, and it has particular reference to the formation of a packag comprising an inner receptacle and an outer protective container.

The objects of the invention are to provide a method of packaging whereby the formation of an effectively sealed inner wrapper is facilitated; to provide a method and apparatus whereby an effectively sealed inner wrapper may be produced rapidly, automatically and economically so as to maintain the packaging cost at a minimum which is consistent with th character of the packaging; to provide apparatus of the character indicated which will operate efficiently and with a minimum of attention from an operator or attendant; and in general, it is the object of the invention to provide an improved packaging method and apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to th following specification and accompanying drawings (11 sheets) wherein there is described and illustrated the improved packaging method and apparatus.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan;

Figure 2 is a perspective of a safety device em- I ployed in the apparatus;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 1; I r

Figure 4 is a plan section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3';

Figure 5 is a perspective of a 'cam which actuates certain parts of the machine;

Figure 6 is a plan section on the line 6-6 of Figure 3;-

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are sections, respectively, on the lines l-'-l, 8-4, 9-4 and III-l0, on Figure 1;

Figure 11 is an enlarged anism shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a section on the Figure 10;

Figure 13 is an enlarged illustration of a detail of mechanism shown on Figure 10;

Figure 14 is a section on the line I 4--l4 of Figure 13; v

Figure 15 is a section on the line l5|5 of Figure 1;

Figures 16 and 1'? are perspectives, respectively, of certain parts of mechanism shown also in Figure 15;

Figure 18 is a plan section on th line lS-IB of Figure 15;

detail of certain mech line |2l 2 of paring the wrapper for insertion into Figure 19 is a section on the line Iii-l9 of ure 3:

Figure 20 is a perspective illustrating the form of the wrapper or lining sheet after the first operation of the machine as completed;

Figure 21 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating the method and apparatus for closing the ends of the wrapper after it is formed to the shape shown in Figure. 20;

Figure 22 is a plan of the mechanism shown in Figure 21;

Figure 23 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a further step in the sealing of the closed ends of the inner wrapper or receptacle;

Figure 24 is a plan of the mechanism shown in Figure 23;

Figure 25 is a perspective showing the sealed end of the inner wrapper;

Figure 26 is a side elevation illustrating the method and apparatus for further acting on the sealed ends of the wrapper;

Figure 27 illustrates the arrangement for prea protective box or outer container;

Figure 28 is a section on the line 28-48 of Figure 1; and

Figure 29 is a perspective illustrating the lined box as delivered by the apparatus herein'shown.

The machineherein shown is designed to produce packages embodying inner wrappers hav ing the property of being foldable so as to bring portions thereof into face-to-face contact and said portions joinable to each other by the application of heat or pressure or both. One such form of wrapper may embody a sheet of Cellophane or other material coated on one side with a rubber-wax composition such as now known in the trade as Parawax, the same compris-- ing a mixture of about 20 per cent of latex and per cent wax. Two such coatings, when brought together and subjected to pressure or heat or both will fuse and become inseparably united, and such material has the property of being capable of being spread in a thin film and of adhering tenaciously to a sheet of wrapper material such as Cellophane or even more common paper or metal foil wrappers.

A wrapper made of Cellophane coated with the said composition is admirably adapted to the making of a hermetically sealed package since such coating material is impervious to moisture and adapted to be effectively sealed around a package content. Hence, such wrappermaterial is especially suited to the packaging of cheese and other food products which should be preserved against the loss or absorption of moisture.

Referring now to the drawings, the machine herein shown comprises a table part 38 having a portion adapted to support a stack 3| of wrapper sheets of the character above described. The stack of wrapper sheets 3| is disposed on said table in a position which is conveniently accessible to an operator of the machine who feeds the sheets one-by-one to a position indicated in broken lines 3|a, which position may be determined by suitable stops such as shown at 32, and from which position a conveyor carries the sheets to the mechanism for forming wrappers.

The conveyor for advancing the sheets from the position indicated at 3|a comprises a pair of conveyor chains 33a and 33b, disposed in spaced relation approximating the corresponding dimension of the sheets 3|. Each conveyor chain 33 is supported by a series of sprockets 34. 35, 38 and 31. The sprockets are suitably mounted for rotation through the agency of shafts 38, 39, 40 and 4|, the same being suitably supported in brackets or bearings, and a supporting framework as shown in the drawings. It is to be understood that a supporting framework is provided and so formed as to supply such supports as are needed for the table top and other parts of the machine.

The conveyors 33a and 331) are intermittently driven by an electric motor 42 (see Figures 6 and 9) which operates through a suitable speed reducer 43 to drive a sprocket 44 at a pre-determined speed. Power is transmitted from the sprocket 44 by a chain 45 to a sprocket 48, which is carried by a shaft 41. The shaft 41 carries a cam 48 which cooperates with a cam follower 49, carried by an arm 58 on a shaft by means of which the arm is pivotally connected to a suitable bracket or frame part. The arm 58 is normally urged by a spring 58a to follow the cam 48. The upper end of the arm 58 has connected to it a link 52 which is connected at its other end to a rock arm 53, the latter being mounted for rocking movement on a suitably supported shaft 54. The arm 53 carries a pawl 55 which is normally urged by means of a spring such as 58 to engage the teeth of a ratchet wheel 51 which is also rotatably supported by said shaft 54. It will be seen that continuous rotation of the shaft 41 will be transmitted into stepby-step rotation of the shaft 54 by means of the described mechanism.

The step-by-step rotation of the shaft 54 is transmitted to the conveyor chains 33a and 33b by means of a sprocket 58 carried by the shaft 54. A chain 59 and another sprocket 88 which is carried by the shaft 39 which carries the conveyor sprockets 35.

Each conveyor chain 33 is equipped with a series of gripping devices 8| which operate to grip the wrapper sheet disposed in the position indicated at 3|a. Said gripping devices (see Figures 11,.13 and 14) comprise a body member 82 which is secured to the chain 33 by means of links such as shown at 83, which are pivoted respectively at their ends to the body 82 and an upstanding ear or extension 84 of one of the chain links. A gripping finger 85 is pivotally mounted, as shown at 86, on a portion of the body member 82 and the free end of said finger and said body member are respectively provided with surfaces 61 and 68 which are adapted to cooperate to grip the wrapper sheet. The finger 85- is normally urged to closed or gripping ger is automatically opened for a short period of time to permit the insertion by the machine operator of a wrapper sheet to be carried in r the machine by the conveyor chains.

The means for automatically opening the gripping finger 85 against the tension of the spring 89 comprises a plunger member 10 mounted in a suitable bracket element 1| for vertically sliding movement. The upper end of the plunger 10 is provided with a plate or head 12 which is adapted to engage a pin 13 extending laterally outwardly from a part of an arm 14 which is carried by an end portion of the pivot member 66 for the gripping finger 65. The plunger 18 is normally held in its lowered position by means of a spring 15 which, at one end, engages a part of the bracket 1| and at its other end engages a pin 16 which extends transversely through the lower end of the plunger 18 and serves also to support a roller 11.

The shaft 38 which supports the sprockets 34 does so through the agency of a sleeve-like part 18. Said sleeve part 18 is equipped with a pair of flanges 19, 19 and a cam flange 80. The sleevelike member 18 is keyed to the shaft 38 to rotate therewith and the cam 88 engages the roller 11 carried by the lower end of the plunger 18, and is so shaped that at the proper time the plunger 18 will be moved upwardly to actuate the gripping finger 85. The sleeve-like member 18 is also provided with a seat or bearing surface 8|, on which the sprocket 34 is mounted for rotation independently of the rotation of the shaft 38. A suitable retaining collar as shown in Figure 14 may be provided for cooperatingwith the adjacent flange 19 to hold the sprocket 34 in place on said bearing surface 8|.

The shaft 38 which carries the cams 80 is continuously driven by suitable connection to the continuously driven shaft 41. Such connections, as best shown in Figure 9, comprise a sprocket 82 on the shaft 41, a chain 83 and a sprocket 84 on a suitably joumalled shaft 85, the latter being thus continuously driven from the shaft 41. The shaft 85 is further provided with a sprocket 88 which cooperates with a chain 81 position by means of a spring 89 and said flnand a sprocket 88 on the shaft 38 whereby the latter is in turn continuously driven. It will be understood that the sprocket ratios are so selected that the shaft 38 will be driven at the proper speed and in properly timed relation to the other mechanism of the machine, so that said gripping devices will be operated in properly synchronized relation to the other mechanism.

The extent of each step of travel of the conveyor chains 33 is suflicient to carry the wrapper sheet from the initial position 3|a to operative position in the machine. Such position may be determined by suitable guides or stops indicated at 89 (see Figures 1 and 9) which are adapted to be engaged by the front or leading edge of the wrapper sheet. Additional rear edge guides indicated at 98 may also be provided. When the sheet 3| reaches the position determined by the 7 stops 89, the gripping finger 65 is automatically opened so as to release the sheet and permit the gripping device to fully release and clear the area ranged to engage a pin 92 projecting outwardly from a portion of the arm 14. As clearly shown in Figure 11, when the pin 92 rides over the cam 1 l of the sheet. The means for releasing the finger is best shown in Figures 10 and 11 and comprises a stationary cam element 9| which 'is ar- 9|, the finger 65 will be raised substantially so as to release the wrapper sheet.

To further insure proper positioning of the wrapper sheet in the position to which it is de-- livered by the conveyor chains,'there are provided a pair of bufiers indicated in their entireties at 93 in Figures 1, 3, 10, 12 and 18. Saidbufier devices 93 comprise bell-crank-like arms 94 arranged in pairs and pivoted as shown at 95 on a normally stationary frame part 96 which constitutes, in effect, a guide or supporting strip for one of the chains 33. Each pair of bell crank members 94 is rigidly connected by meansof a rod 91 and by means of a plate element 98. A suitable spring 99 serves to normally hold the plate-carrying part of the bufling device in out position as shown in full lines in Figure 12.

The adjacent chain 33 is provided at proper intervals with an inwardly extending projection I00, which is adapted to engage and ride over the connecting. bar 91 and to depress the same against the tension of the spring 99 to thereby rock the plate part 98 inwardly. The plate part 98 is arranged at such a level that it will be adapted to engage the adjacent edge portion of the chain 3| at about the time the sheet is released from the conveyor grippers and in this manner the sheet will be accurately centered between the oppositely disposed edge-engaging bufl'ing devices 93.

When the sheet 3I has been delivered as above explained by the conveyor chains, it is in position to receive the first forming operation of the machine. The first forming operation is to fold the sheet to a trough-like or U-shaped form such as represented in Figure 20. For accomplishing this purpose there is provided a folding plate mechanism which underlies the sheet delivered by the conveyor chains and a plurality of mandrels which come successively into cooperative relation with the said folding plate structure.

In the present embodiment, there are four mandrel's, each designated IM and all carried by a rotatable cross-head I02. The cross-head I02 slidably mounted post I05. For removably locking the central plate part I03 in place on the post -I05, there is provided a spring-pressed locking pin I06 (see Figures 3 and- 18) carried by the plate I03, an end portion of which projects into registering holes in the shouldered post portion I04 and the surrounding boss'portion of the plate I03.

Hinged to each side of the central plate member I03, are folding side plates I01 and I08, said folding plates being supported innormal co- 1 planar relation to the central plate I03 by their indicated hinge connections therewith, and by engagement with portions I09 of transversely extending members H at each end of the folding structure. The members IIO are, as best shown in Figure 19, secured by means of screws to the bottom side of the central plate element I03, so

.as to be movable therewith. The outer end portions I II of said transverse members provide supporting elements for corner portions of the gripping sheets during an initial portion of. the first folding operation and thereby prevent such corner portions from dropping downwardly with possible interference with the proper folding of the sheet.

Each of the hinged folding plates I01 and I08 is connected by means of a link such as II2 to the adjacent end of a cross-head II3, which is vertically slidably mounted on the post I05.

Vertical movement of the post I05 and of the cross-head II3 relative to the post I05 is effected by means of a-rotary cam II4 carried by the shaft 85. Said cam operates against'a camfollowing roller II5 carried by an arm IIG which is pivoted on a shaft learned by. suitably located frame parts (see Figures 4 and 9). The free end of the arm H6 is forked and connected by links II8 to the opposite sides of the crosshead H3. The forked ends of the arm II8 are also connected by means of springs II9 to the shaft I05. When the cam II4 effects upward rocking movement of the-arm II8, the spring "connection II9 between the arm II 8 and shaft I05 is effective to transmit the upward movement of the arm to the shaft or post I05 so as to cause thecentral plate I03 to approach the bottom of the mandrel IOI. When the plate I03 is stopped against further upward movement by the mandrel IOI, continued upward rocking movement of the arm H6 is permitted by the stretching of the springs H9 and serves through the links II8 to effect upward movement of the cross-head II3 relative to the post I05 and through the links II2, upward folding movement of the folding plates I01 and I09. It will be understood that. such upward movement of the folding plates I01 and I08, in cooperation with the mandrel IOI, will effect folding of a wrapper sheet to the trough-like or U-form illustrated in Figure 20; the folding position of the mechanism is illustrated in Figure 19.

After certain other operations are completed, the cam II4 permits the arm IIG to be lowered with consequent unfolding of the folding plates I01 and I08 and lowering of the central member I03. It is important, however, thatthe folded wrapper element be retained in place on the 4s mandrel IOI, so that the wrapper will be carried by the mandrel through other operations of the machine.

For gripping the wrapper to hold it in folded condition on the mandrel there is provided on one side of the latter a pivoted finger I20 which is normally urged by a spring I2I to rock in such a direction that the lower end portion of the finger is pressed toward the adjacent face of the mandrel. Saidfinger is so located on the mandrel that it will be adapted to pinch an upper marginal portion of the folded wrapper against the mandrel. occupies a position in which the lower portion of the finger engages the side of the mandrel. In order to move the finger portion out of the way of the wrapper element to permit the folding therof by the folding plate I08, the latter is equipped with an arm I22 which is pivotally c nnected as shown at I23 to the plate I08-and rovided at its outer or free end with a projection I 24. Said projection I24 is adapted to engage the upper end portion of the finger I20 so as to rock the lower portion thereof upwardly and outwardly to the position illustrated in Fig- The finger I20 normally.

to operate the finger I20 before the wrapper reaches its folded position as shown in Figure 19. In order to safeguard the mechanism against injury by possible accidental interference with free movement of the finger I20 or other causes, the arm I22 is yieldingly held in its indicated operative position by a spring I25 which will permit the arm I22 to yield without breaking in the event that the finger I24 should not be permitted to pass to its operative position as shown in Figure 19.

For the purpose of preventing slippage of the wrapper sheet duringthe described folding operation, the central plate i03 is provided near each of its ends with an upwardly spring-pressed button I26, the same normally projecting somewhat above the top surface of the central plate I03 so that such buttons will engage the sheet and pinch it against the bottom of the mandrel slightly prior to the time that the member I03 reaches its full up-position relative to the mandrel.

While the folding plates I01 and I remain in their upwardly folded position as shown in Figure 19, end portions of the trough-shaped wrapper are brought together and sealed in the position shown in Figure 25 so as to form end closures for the trough-like structure to thereby convert it into a receptacle. Such operations are effected by mechanism best shown in Figures 3, 4, to 18, inclusive, and 21 to 24, inclusive. The mechanism referred to comprises a centering plate I21 which is carried by a vertically slidably mounted bar I28, the latter being so mounted in suitably located frame or bracket parts as best shown in Figures 15 and 18 (see Figures 1 and 3, also). Said bar I28 extends downwardly and is provided with a roller I29 which is adapted to be engaged by a cam I30. A spring I3I stretched between the lower end of the bar I28 and a suitable bracket as indicated serves to cause the roller I29 to follow the cam I30.

The cam I30,is an oscillating cam mounted on the lower end portion of a shaft I32 which is suitably :Iournalled in frame and bracket parts provided for that purpose. Said shaft I32 is also provided with a gear segment I33 which meshes with another gear segment I34 which is formed on one end of a rock-lever I35. The rock-lever I35 is pivotally mounted as indicated at I38 on a suitably provided frame part and it is provided with a cam-engaging roller I31 which cooperates with a rotary cam I40 to effect rocking movement of the arm I35. The cam I40 is carried by the shaft 35.

The arm I35 is provided with an extension I beyond its pivot I36 and said extension I is connected by means of a spring I42 to a corresponding extension of another arm I35a which is actuated by a cam I 40a, the latter being a reversed duplicate of the cam I40. The arm I35a is of construction similar to that of the arm I35 and operates a second set of mechanism corresponding to that operated by the arm I35 for closing the other end of the trough-like structure. Hence, it will be understood that the description of the mechanism for closing one end of the structure will also apply to like mechanism similarly operated but located to close the end of .the trough-like wrapper. The spring I42 serves to cause both arms I35 to maintain an operative relationship with its operating cam I40 or Ila.

When the cam I30 is turned in one direction incident to mo ement of the arm I35, the bar I28 is pulled downwardly by the spring I3I so a to cause the lower end portion I43 of the centering plate I21 to engage the bottom portion I44 of the U-shaped wrapper sheet.

Simultaneous with the downward, centering movement of the centering plate I21, side-en- I gaging sealing devices are swung toward each other so as to engage the opposite side portions I45 and I46 of the U-shaped wrapper structure so as to fold the end portions of said sides across the ends of the mandrel IOI (see Figure 24). Said folding and sealing devices comprise vertically disposed, electrically heated presser bars I41 and I48 respectively carried by the outer ends of arms such as indicated at I49 and 350. The arms I50 are rotatably mounted on the shaft I32 and the arms I49 are similarly mounted on a shaft I5I which is rotatably supported by the same bracket and frame parts as support the shaft I32. The shaft I5I is geared to the shaft I32 by means of meshing gears I 52 and I53 which are respectively secured to the shaft I 5| and I32, so that rotation imparted to the shaft I 32 by the arm I35 will also be imparted to the shaft I5I but in a reverse direction.

The shafts I32 and I5I are thus adapted to be simultaneously oscillated in opposite directions.

The movement of the shafts is transmitted to the arms I49 and I50, respectively, and the sealing bars carried thereby by means of arms I54 and I55 which are respectively secured to the shafts I5I and I32, so as to oscillate therewith. The outer ends of the arms I54 and I55 are suitably connected to the sealing bar-carrying arms so that rocking movement of the arms I54 and I55 inwardly and toward each other will be transmitted through springs such as indicated at I56 to the sealing bars I41 and I48, whereby the latter are caused to move inwardly and toward each other. As a result of such movement of the sealing bars, the end portions of the side walls I45 and I46 of the U-shaped wrapper element (which project beyond the ends of the mandrel IOI) will be engaged and folded as indicated in Figure 24 across the end of the mandrel.

The end portions of the wrapper project to such an extent beyond the mandrel IOI that relatively narrow marginal portions there, I45a and 611, will continue to extend laterally from the end of the mandrel as shown in Figure 24 and be pinched between heated sealing bars I41 and I48, so as to avoid more than necessary contact of the heated sealing bars I41 and I48 with end portions of the wrapper which are folded across the ends of the mandrel. Each of the folding members I51 may further be equipped with relatively narrow spring mandrel wings I58 which serve to press the end portions of the wrapper against the ends of the mandrel to hold them firmly in place while the sealing operation is eifected.

By reference to Figures 21 and 23, it will be understood that the downward movement of the centering plate -I21 serves to bend or fold the end portion of the bottom wall I44 of the wrap- Der downwardly across the end portion I59 of the bottom plate I03, and that the lower end of said centering plate serves to facilitate the formation of a harp fold at-the bottom of the united marginal portions of the wrapper. As an incident to the inward folding movement of the wrapper end portions, the latter move transversely across 'said centering plate I21 and upon completion of I6I, the crank arm flimsy nevertheless conthe end-folding operation, leave the centering member I21 as indicated in Figure 23, so that the heated sealing bars may press the marginal wrapper portions together. Upon completion of the sealing operation, 1. c. after a suitable interval. of rest to permit the desired fusion of the thermo-plastic coatings as determined by the shaping of the cams I40 and M, the parts are moved in reverse directions to restore them to their initial positions in which they are illustrated in Figures 15 and 18. It will be observed that the movements of the wrapper-engaging parts are effected by spring power but that the reverse movements are positively effected by cam action. This is a desirable arrangement in that it avoids the necessity for fineadjustments which are diflicult to make andmaintain.

After the end-folding operation is completed and the parts restored to their initial positions,

or during the return movement of the parts, the side-folding plates I01 and I08 are also restored to their initial positions and the gripping finger I20 permitted to pinch the upper marginal portion of the receptacle-shaped wrapper against the mandrel to hold the wrapper thereon during subsequentmovement of the mandrel for further which is journalled in suitable'bearings provided in the frame-work of the machine as best shown in Figure 3 and supported against vertical movement in any conventional manner. Said tubular shaft I6I has secured to it a ratchet wheel I62 which is acted upon by a pawl I63 carried by one end of an arm I64 which is mounted for oscillation on the shaft I6I. The other end of the arm I64 is provided with an adjustably mounted upstanding ball element I65 to which is connected one end I66 of an extensible link structure. Said linkstructure comprises said end portion I66 and an end portion or clevice I61.

The clevice part I61 has connected to it a tubular stem element I68 and the end part I66 has connected to it a rod part I69 which telescopes withinthe tubular stem part I68. Th tubular part I68 is slotted as indicated at I10 and a transversely extending pin I carried by the inner end of said rod l69 extends through the slots I10 and into the hub of a flange element I12. A coil spring I13 is interposed between the flange I12 and a shoulder formed at the free end of the tubular stem part I68. The clevice I61 is connected by means of a bearing element I14 to a crank arm I15 formed on or interposed in the length of the driven shaft 61.

It will be seen that incident to rotation ofthe shaft 41, the crank arm I15 will effect oscillation of the lever or arm I64 so as to cause the pawl I 63 to engagesuccessive teeth of the ratchet I62 to rotate the tubular shaft I6I step by step. The throw of the crank I15 and the lever arm length of the rock arm I64 are, so proportioned that the pawl I63 will be actuated through the required arcv to efiect rotation of the shaft I6I through an arc of 90 for each forward move ment of the pawl I63.

In the event that some unexpected obstruction should prevent or obstruct'rotation of the shaft tinue its rotary movement, in that casepulling the tubular stem part I68 outwardly along the rod I69 and incidentally compressing the spring I13. Anelectric switch I16 (see Figure 8) is carried by a bracket I11 which is secured to the clevice I61 and said switch is controlled by a pin or button I18 which engages the flange I12.

In the event that the connecting rod structure is lengthened incident to stopping of the rotation of the shaft I6I by a foreign body, the switch body I16 and its controlling pin I18 will be pulled away from the flange I12, thereby permitting the switch button I18 to move outwardly toeither open or close an electric circuit which maybe utilized to control the operation of the main driving motor 42. The electric circuit controlled by the switch I 16 may control suitable relays which in turn control the main driving motor 42 in such a way that in case of an obstruction preventing rotation of the cross-head I02, the motor 42 will be de-energized to permit the machine to come to a stop without injuring any of themechanism.

To insure a prompt stop and to prevent overthrow resulting from momentum, the shaft I6I ends for rocking movement, A spring I is provided for normally urging the toothed end I82 of the rock arm into engagement with one of the notches I8I and the other end of the rock arm is provided with a cam-engaging roller I 86 which cooperates with a cam I81. The cam I81 is carried by the shaft 41 and is 'so shaped that at proper intervals the rock arm I83 will be disengaged from the toothed wheel I80 'so as to permit the shaft I6I to be rotated by the mechanism above described.

During the movement of the mandrel IOI on which a lining material receptacle is formed from the first operative stage to the second stage of operation, the endwise extending, joined flange portions 145a and 14611 are folded to flatwise condition against theend of the mandrel and the depending triangular end portions indicated at I88 are turned upwardly to approximately horizontal position.

The mechanism for turning the united endvwise extending marginal portions to flatwise position comprises a pair of substantially vertically disposed, electrically heated rods I89 and I90 (see Figures 1, 8 and 26), the said heated rods just clearthe respective rods. As best shown in Figure 26, the sidewise travel of' the mandrel between the heated rods I89 and I90 will cause the endwise extending, unitedmarginal portions Min and M to engage the said heated rods reason'that such heating has the effect of softening the thermo-plastic or other cementitious material carried by the wrapper and thus facilitates folding of said united marginal portions as explained. Also, incident to the softening of the .cementitious material, the formation of sharp folds is facilitated and upon cooling and setting of the cementitious material, the folds will remain sharp and substantially permanent. This is "contrasted with the normal tendency of ordinary folded wrapping materials to spring open from any folded condition. The sharpness and permanence of the folds here provided is probably due at least in part to the ability of the overlapping folded portions to slip flatwise on each other to a slight but suficient extent, when the thermo-plastic material is soft, to avoid stretching of one portion when. folded over the other.

The heated rod I89 may conveniently be secured at its lower end as shown in Figure 8 to a bracket carried by a frame part of the mechanism, and the heated element I98 may be secured at its lower end to an adjacent portion of a tions I88, there is provided .a guide rod element- I93 for acting on the triangular portion at the inner end of the receptacle and a cam element I94 for acting on the triangular part at the outer end of the receptacle. The guide rod I98 first engages the inside of'the adjacent depending triangular portion I88 and is so shaped and arranged that incident to the continued movement of 'the mandrel to the second operating stage, the said triangular portion will be folded to an outwardly or generally horizontally extending position as illustrated in Figure 2'1.

The cam element I94 is formed as a part of the bracket I9I and similarly acts on the triangular portion I88 at the outerend of the mandrel. For purposes which will presently appear, it has been found convenient to provide the cam I94 with a terminal piece I95 which may be adjusted laterally, i. e. toward or from the end of the mandrel to permit accurate control of the final position to which the triangular portion I88 will be folded by the cam structure.

Outer protective containers, for example cardboard, or wooden boxes such as indicated at I98 in Figure 29, are fed one by one to'the machine by a conveyor belt I91 which may be suitably driven by means of inter-meshing gears I98, of which one is carried by a shaft I99. The shaft I99 may be continuously rotated by means of a driving chain 288, which engages sprockets 28I on the shaft I99 and 282 on the driven shaft .85 (see Figures 4 and 9).

A box advanced by the conveyor I91 is received on a platform 283 which is equipped with side and endguides 284 and 285 for accurately positioning such box on the platform. The platform 283 is mounted on the upper end portion of a vertically slidably mounted shaft 288 which-is normally urged to move upwardly by a tension spring 281. To prevent the support 288 from rotating, the shaft is provided with a laterally extending arm 253 which is apertured adjacent its which is carried by a fra e part as best shown in Figure 6.

Upward movement of the shaft 288 under the influence of the spring 281 is controlled by a cam 288 which acts against a roller 289 carried by one 1 'cam 288 permits the roller-carrying end of the arm 218 to move downwardly, the spring 281 will be enabled to move the shaft 288 upwardly to thereby elevate the platform 283 and the box positioned thereon. Incident to the upward movement of the box I98, which is then properly registered with respect to the overlying wrappercovered mandrel IN, the box will be caused to telescope over the wrapper and incidentally to fold the then more or less horizontally extending triangular end portions I88 upwardly and inwardly against the ends of the mandrel (see Figure 27) In the event that the box should for some reason or other be out of register with the mandrel or in the event that some other damages should prevent the proper upward movement of the platform or elevator 283, provision is made for promptly stopping the driving motor 42 so as to prevent damage to the machine. Such means comprises a so-called micro-switch 2I3 which controls the electric circuit to the driving motor 42. Said switch 2I3 is mounted by means such as a bracket 2 on the rock arm 2I8 adjacent the roller 289. The roller 289 has its shaft ends as indicated at MS extended into slots such as shown at 2I8 in the arm 2I8, and the normal position of said shaft ends is in the upper ends of the slots 2I8. In that position one of the shaft ends engages a pin 2| 1 which actuates the switch 2I3.

In the event that upward movement of the platform 288 is prevented, the arm 2I8 will come to a stop and the receding surface of the cam 288 will permit the shaft ends 2I5 to move downwardly in the slots 2I8 with the result that the switch-pin 2 is released and the switch 2I3 actuated for the purposeindicated.

In order to maintain the box firmly against the side guide 284 of the platform 283 during the upward movement thereof, there is provided a pair of presser plates 225, 225 (see Figures 7 and 28) which are carried by the outer ends of arms 228, 228, which are pivotally mounted intermediate their endsand connected at their other ends by means of tension springs 221 against the side of the box I98 so as to hold the latter against the guide element 284 ,during the upward movement of the platform 283. In this manner the box I98 is maintained in proper alignment with the overlying mandrel so as to readily telescope over the same upon continued upward movement of the platform 283.

The platform 283 remains elevated until the next step of rotation of the cross-head I82 and parts carried thereby has been effected to such an extent that the box-carrying mandrel II has moved the box thereon from the platform 283 to a supporting table 2I8. The table or plate 2I8 is rigidly secured at its outer edge as indicated at 2I9 to an upstanding end casing member 228 and the inner portion of said supporting plate 2I8 is yieldingly supported by means of spring-supported pins or plungers 22I (see Figures 1, 3 and 7). Llhe inner edge of said end of the rock arm 238 which is located in box- The movement of the rock su'pporting plate 2I8 is preferably beveled or rounded as indicated at 222, so as to facilitate porting member 223 are normally maintained in elevated position.

By spring means such as indicated at 228 (see Figures 3 and 7), the lowerend of the shaft 224 is connected by means of links'such-as 229 a to the adjacent end of a rock arm 238 which is pivoted at its opposite end on a portion of'the frame. Said rock arm 238 is provided with a roller 23I which engages a rotary cam 232 carried by the shaft 41. Said cam 232 is so shaped that at properly synchronized intervals the shaft 224 and its top plate 223 will be lowered to support the lined box which is then being stripped from the mandrel I6 I For stripping the lined box from the mandrel Illl, the bottom 233 of the mandrel is made separate from the sides thereof and said bottom is normally held in its operative position relative to the side walls of the mandrel by such means as springs 234 located within the mandrel. Vertical movement of the bottom element 233 is, however, guided by means of a guide rod 235 which is secured at its lower end to the mandrel bottom 233 and slidably mounted as indicated at 236 and 231 near the bottom andtop of the mandrel.

Downward movement of the mandrel bottom to effect the box-strippingoperation is produced by means of a cam-controlled rock lever 238 pivotallymounted intermediate its ends as shown at 239 on the cross-head I02. The outer end of the rock arm 238 is connected by means of a link 246 to one end of an arm 2 which is secured at its other end to the guide rod 235.

Rocking movement of the rock arm 238 is controlled by means of a shaft 242, which is verures 1, 3 and 8, the purpose of such uni-directional position of said lip 246 being to act on the inner ends of the rock arms 238 only when in the boxstripping position of the mandrel.

The vertically slidably mounted shaft 242 is actuated by means of a bell crank pivotally mounted as indicated at 24'! and comprising an arm 248 connected at its free ends as indicated at 249 to the lower end of'said shaft 242. ,The

bell crank also comprises an upwardly extending arm 254 which is provided with a roller 25I for.

engagement with a cam 252 carried by the driven shaft 41. The cam 252 is so shaped that in properly synchronized relation to the other movements of the machine mechanism, the shaft 242 will be moved upwardly with the result that the cam lip 246 at the upper end of the shaft will engage the roller 245 carried by the inner 75 by a spring 286 in co-planarrelation to the gate stripping position. arm thus effected effects downward movement of the mandrel bottom 233 andconsequently strips the lined box I36 from the mandrel. The downward movement of the mandrel bottom 233'progresses at the same rate of speed and simultaneously with the downward movement of the supporting member 223, the latter being controlledby the cam 232.

The cam 232 is operative to hold the support v223 with the lined box thereon in lowered position while the cam 252 permits the central rod or shaft 242 to belowered so that the springs 234 within the mandrel may return the mandrel bot tom 233 to normal position, thereby withdrawing said mandrel bottom from within the lowered lined box.

When the box is thus freedfrom the mandrel and the mandrel bottom, it is ready to be con-' veyed to filling machinery and it is started on its way by means of a conveyor 255 which is equipped with pusher members 256 in properly spaced relation to engage each lined b'dx deposited on the support 223. As best shown in Figures 4 and 7, the conveyor 255 comprises a pair of chains each of which is equipped with the said pusher members 256 for engaging the sides of the lined boxes adjacent their respective ends. The conveyor is driven by means of inter-meshing gears 251, one of which gears issecured to a I shaft of the conveyor 255 and the other of which gears is connected to the driven shaft 65. The conveyor 255 is thus driven continuously and it will be understood that the pusher members 256 are so located on the conveyor that they will 'occur in properly-synchronized relation to the deposition of successive lined boxes on the support 223. The boxes are propelled from the lowered support 223 to a platform 258 from which they are delivered to the filling machine or other apparatus either manually or by suitable conveyor means. 7 r

In the event that a box lining or even a lined box should inadvertently adhere to the mandrel when it begins its next step of rotary movement, the mechanism, if not brought to a stopbecause of the safety switch arrangement I'l6I'I8 previ- "iousy described, will be stopped by another safety device which is best shown in Figures 1, 2 and 7.

Said extra safety device comprises an elongated gate structure 259 which is pivoted intermediate its ends as indicated at 268 on a suitable bracket carried by the framework of the machine. The outer end of the gate 259 engages a spring element 26I which serves toresist swinging movement of the plate in the direction of rotation of the cross-head I02 and the mandrels carried thereby.

The opposite or inner end of the gate structure 269 is provided with an adjustable pin 262 which engages a pin or button 263, of anelectric switch 264. In the event that any part of a box or box lining should be carried by themandrel from the lined box discharging station, such part will engage a part of the gate 259 and cause the same to swing against the spring 26I with the result that the switch 264 will be actuated to promptly stop the further movement of the mechanism. In order to prevent possible bending or other damage to the upper edge portion of the gate 259, said upper edge portion as indicated at 259a is made as a separate part hinged as indicated at 265 to the main gate 259 and normally held location. bolts 266 to properly locate the structure in ad- 259. It will be apparent that the upper gate portion 259a may yield slightly before its movement is transmitted to the main gate 259 so as to actuate the switch 265.

The mechanism above described is operative to form an impervious sheet material receptacle of a pre-determined size and to insert such receptacle in an outer protective box of appropriate size. In some industries where the mechanism may be employed, it is customary to provide similar but different sizes of packages of the same material. For example, in packaging cheese it is customary to provide a so-called five-pound loaf, fivepound long loaf and a two-pound loaf. The mechanism as shown in the drawings is arranged for filling receptacles and lining boxes for tlie regular five-pound loaf package.

. However. the mechanism may be readily changed to package either the long loaf or the smaller two-pound loaf.

To change the machine for packaging the socalled five-pound long loaf, the cross-head I02 with its associated mandrel and mechanism is removed from the upper end of the shaft I6I, and another cross-head with appropriately sized mandrels is substituted. The folding plates I03, I01 and I08 are also replaced by folding plate of suitable size. Such changing of folding plates is readily permitted by the spring locking device I06 which facilitates removal of the folding plate structure from the upper end of the shaft I05. The guides 65 and 90 are also suitably adjusted if necessary, and the outerend closing mecha- ,nism is also adjusted outwardly to increase the spacing between it and its complementary inner end closing mechanism, the latter being mounted in fixed position. Also, the sheet conveyor 33b is adjusted outwardly to increase the spacing between the conveyors 33a and 33b to accommodate the wider wrapper sheets required for the longer packages.

Adjustment of the outer end closing device comprising the swinging sealer members I41 and I48, the centering device I21 and parts for operating the same, is facilitated by mounting all of such parts on a bracket member 261 which is bolted as indicated at 268 to stationary frame parts of the mechanism (see Figures 3, and 18). It will be apparent that by removing the bolts 268, the bracket element 261 and all of the folding mechanism and operating parts carried thereby may be adjusted outwardly to a new Suitable openings for receiving the justed position may be provided.

As indicated in Figures 4 and 15, the cam I 40 which actuates the rock arm I35 for operating the sealing devices is keyed to the shaft 85 so as to be rotatable therewith while also being slidable longitudinally of the shaft. The cam is also provided with a grooved hub 269 which receives a fork 210 which depends from the bracket plate 261 so that adjustment of the latter outwardly also effects adjustment of the operating cam I40 outwardly to a suitable position on the shaft 65.

For convenience in adjusting the conveyor 33b outwardly, the various sprockets which support the conveyor chain 33b are keyed to their respective shafts where necessary to rotatably connect such sprockets and shafts and theyare also mounted so as to be slidable lengthwise on said shafts. Such sprockets are "provided with grooved hubs 21I for receiving suitable fork formations such as indicated at 212 carried by a frame bracket 213 which is slidably mounted on a pair of stationary shafts or rods 214. Said bracket plate 213 is also provided with a hub having a threaded opening indicated at 215 which receives an adjusting screw 216 which is suitably supported in a bracket 211 (see Figure 3'). The screw 216 is also provided with a crank handle 218 by means of which it may be manually rotated to effect corresponding adjustment of the bracket plate 213 and thereby shifting of the sprockets and conveyor 33b to the required new location. Any suitable micrometer adjustment indicated generally at 219 may be provided if desired to facilitate accurate setting of the structure and to lock the same in adjusted position. As shown in F.'gure 3, one of the side buffers 93 is carried by the adjustable bracket member 213 so as to be adjusted in unison with the conveyor 33b, and may require adjustment as tolocation to cause the same to. release the sheet at the proper point in accordance with the size thereof.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that an operator feeds the wrapper sheets with their thermo-plastic coatings on their uppermost faces successively to a pre-determined position. The pre-determined position referred to is such'that the forward edges of the sheet will be positioned within the open grippers carried by the conveyor chains, which grippers will be automatically closed so that upon forward movement of the chains, the sheet will be carried forwardly until the grippers are automatically opened and the sheet deposited in proper position between one of the mandrels and the preliminary folding plates.

The folding plates are next operated to fold the sheet into U-shaped form around the bottom and one pair of opposite sides of the mandrel, the-sheet being of such width that end portions of the U-shaped or trough-like form of the wrapper then project beyond the opposite ends of the mandrel. The projecting end portions of the sheet are then folded and sealed to form a receptacle having impervious bottom, side and end walls, it being understood that the joints in the end walls are also of such character that they, too, are impervious. The end folding and folding plate devices are then returned to initial position and the mandrel advanced, the wrapper-formed receptacle being held on the mandrel by the described gripping finger. During the forward movement of the mandrel with its wrapper-receptacle, certain portions of the wrapper or receptacle are folded in preparation for the insertion of the wrapper into a box or its equivalent, the telescoping of the box over the wrapper. The latter folding operations are effected as an incident to the travel of the mandrel and receptacle.

When the mandrel reaches a second stopping place, a box, usually a heavy cardboard or as herein shown, a wooden box, is moved upwardly and telescoped over the receptacle on the mandrel, after which the mandrel, now carrying both areceptacle and a box, is again advanced, the box being supported by riding on a yieldable table-like plate. The mandrel then' comes to a third stopping position and the bottom of the mandrel is pressed downwardly so as to strip the receptacle and box from the mandrel, the receptacle and box being, during the stripping operation, supported from below by a vertically movable plunger which moves in unison with the downward or stripping movement of the mandrel bottom. When the box-- and mandrel reach a pre-determined lowered position free of fourth being located in idle position. Hence the machine is simultaneously performing three different operations on as many wrappers respectively located in the three operating positions.

means being such as to cause said folding mechanism and mandrel -to be restored to their respective initial positions upon completion of the folding operation of said wrapper folding mechanism, means for holding the folded wrapper sheet on the mandrel after restoration of said folding means to initial position, and means for effecting The described structuremay be varied considerably in respect of many of its structural details and operating mechanisms. Hence, the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims should not be limited, unless required by the prior art, to the specific details and arrangements herein disclosed, but should be interpreted as broadly as is consistent with the state of the prior art.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a laterally 'movably mounted mandrel, wrapper-folding mechanism disposed in downwardly spaced relation to said mandrel and comprising bottom and side members pivotally connected to opposite sidesof said bottom member, actuating means for effecting relative vertical movementof said mandrel and said folding mechanism and upward folding of said side members so as to embrace said mandrel thereby to fold a wrapper upwardly-around the bottom and opposite sides of said mandrel, said actuating means being such as to cause said folding mechanism and mandrel to be restored to their respective initial positions upon completion of the folding operation of said wrapper folding mechanism, and means for effecting lateral movement of said mandrel with said folded wrapper thereon to another position.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a laterally movably mounted mandrel, wrapper-folding mechanism disposed in downwardly spaced relation to said mandrel and comprising bottom and side members pivotally connected to opposite sides of said bottom member, actuating means for effecting relative vertical movement of said mandrel and said folding mechanism and upward folding of said side members so as to embrace said mandrel, thereby to fold a wrapper upwardly around the bottom and opposite sides of said mandrel, said actuating means comprising means for yieldingly effecting said relative upward folding of said side members and being such as to cause said folding mechanism and mandrel to be restored to their respective initial positions upon completion of the folding operation of said wrapper folding mechanism, and means for effecting lateral lateral movement of said mandrel with said folded wrapper thereon to another position.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a laterally movably mounted mandrel, wrapper-folding mechanism disposed in downwardly spaced relation to said mandrel and comprising bottom and side members pivotally connected to opposite sides of said bottom member, conveyor means for delivering wrapper sheets successively to said folding mechanism and comprising a uni-directionally driven endless chain and a plurality of gripping devices carried ,by said chain, means for actuating said gripping devices so as to grip a wrapper sheet delivered thereto,

thereby to cause said chain to propel such wrapper sheet, means for opening said gripping devices so as to release and deliver the wrapper sheet in a pre-determined position, actuating means for effecting relative vertical movement of said mandrel and said folding mechanism and V upward folding of said side members so as to embrace said mandrel, thereby to fold a wrapper upwardly around the bottom and opposite sides of said mandrel, said actuating means being such as to cause said folding mechanism and mandrel to be restored to their respective initial positions upon completion of the folding operation of said wrapper folding mechanism, and means for effecting lateral movement of said mandrel with said folded wrapper thereon to another position.

5. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a laterally movably mounted mandrel, wrapper-folding mechanism disposed in downwardly spaced relation to said mandrel and comprising bottom and side members pivotallyconnected to opposite sides of said bottom member, conveyor means for delivering wrapper sheets successively to said folding mechanism,

, automatically actuated means for engaging the side edges of the wrapper sheets to adjust the same transversely of the direction in which the same are propelled by said conveyor, actuating means for effecting relative vertical movement of said mandrel and said folding mechanism and upward folding of said side members so as to embrace said mandrel, thereby to fold a wrapper upwardly around the bottom and opposite sides upon completion of the folding operation of said movement of said mandrel with said folded wrapper thereon to another position.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a laterally movably mounted mandrel, wrapper-folding mechanism disposed in downwardly spaced relation to said mandrel and comprising bottom and side members pivotally opposite sides of said mandrel, said actuating wrapper folding mechanism, and means for effecting lateral movement of said mandrel with vertical movement of said mandrel and saidfolding mechanism and upward folding of said side .members so as to embrace said mandrel,

thereby to fold a wrapper upwardly around the bottom and opposite sides of said mandrel, said wrapper being so positioned on said mandrel 

